It seems like I never have good news, but things are what they are.
It turns out I've been suffering from acute back pain these past few weeks. This goes way back, as I've always had muscle knots and back strains every now and then.
When it all started, I had a pretty strong knot in the rhomboid, right next to the left shoulder blade. At first, I didnât think much of it, considering all the other stuff I had going on. But the pain has been getting worse. In fact, I have a lump in that area, about the size of a golf ball, that you can see with the naked eye.
I finally decided to see a physical therapist because the pain had become almost unbearable. After three sessions, not only has the pain not decreased, itâs actually gotten worse. Thatâs made us wonder whether there might be something else going on. In fact, I have lumps in other areasâshoulder, biceps,...âthat have been confirmed as tumor masses.
The pain feels like a muscle knot, but extreme. Even taking a mix of Tramadol, Nolotil, and Enantium every 3 hours doesnât help reduce it.
Yesterday (2025-03-25) I had to go to the ER because the pain was unbearable. Especially when I stand up. The only way I can keep the pain at a tolerable level is by sitting in my office chair or lying down with several pillows.
At the ER they gave me several IV drips (Tramadol and Enantium), which relieved the pain, though only for a few hours. After that, it became just as intense again.
Today, at the oncologist visit, I was told it could very well be another tumor mass and that it needs to be investigated. Theyâve ordered an ultrasound. In the meantime, theyâve given me Fentanyl patches. Yes, that fentanyl..
If it turns out to be a tumor mass, maybe it could be treated with radiotherapy to shrink it and, hopefully, stop the pain.
(03-27-2025) This doesnât look good at all. The fentanyl patch hasnât done anything for me. I have my fourth round of chemo at 1:30 p.m., but I think Iâm going to have to go to the ER first.
Finally, they've told us to put a second patch on me instead of going to the emergency room. Let's see if it does anything.
Thanks to a friend, we got the ultrasound moved up. As we feared, it's another tumor mass, located between ribs 6 and 7.
To think I went to the physio three times and had to endure all that pain... for nothing!
Theyâve increased my dose of fentanyl patches. Initially, it was 12 micrograms/hour. Now Iâll be using one 25 microgram/hour patch plus another 12 microgram/hour patch. A total of 37 micrograms/hour.
Theyâve also given me an extra fentanyl pill for times of intense pain, which is taken sublingually. Iâve already tried it and it didnât reduce the pain. Not good.
Supposedly, Iâll be getting radiotherapy to shrink the mass, but it takes weeks to have any effect.
Iâm afraid some tough days lie ahead.